Page 37 of The Mister I Married

Yes, this would be her first foray into physical intimacy, but everyone who’d done it had had to do it a first time, hadn’t they?

It was not that serious.

She nibbled her lower lip. But it feels serious. Very much so.

The trio headed for their rooms, climbing the stairs in silence, and then Alex led the way down the corridor, halting in front of one of the many closed oaken doors.

“I’ve had your bags put in this chamber,” he said, looking first at Tess and then at Emmy, as if he meant her bags, too—but that couldn’t be correct.

Only, apparently it was.

“I think it would be best if you two shared a room tonight,” he said to Emmy. “I am…not comfortable leaving Tess alone in an inn.”

Emmy blinked. “Oh.”

The single syllable popped out of her mouth, propelled by surprise alone, but she quickly smoothed her features and smiled. “Of course, Alex.” She turned to Tess and gestured toward the door. “Shall we?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Tess reached for the doorknob and bid her brother a good night before stepping into the room.

Emmy followed, turning in the doorway to meet her new husband’s gaze. “Good night, Alex.”

“Good night,” he said softly. Perhaps even regretfully, but that could easily have been her injured pride making her see things. “Sleep well.”

She closed the door before her smile could slip, pausing for a moment to collect herself and try to tamp down the mass of emotions swirling inside her.

When she’d recovered her control, she turned to inspect the room where she would be spending her husband-less wedding night. It was small and tidy, sparsely but comfortably furnished with a bed, an escritoire and rugs and draperies in pretty shades of rose and sage.

Tess was standing at the bed, laying out her nightgown on the quilted counterpane.

“My brother is a touch too protective of me,” she said, glancing at Emmy with what seemed to be a mix of sympathy and chagrin. “I know this cannot be what you expected of your wedding night, but I must admit, I am glad not to be alone. I’ve never stayed at an inn before.”

Emmy crossed the room to the other side of the bed where her own portmanteau awaited her. “Where did you stay on your journey to London?”

“Nowhere. We left very early in the morning and made the trip in one day.”

“Well,” Emmy said, shaking the wrinkles from her nightgown, “I am confident our stay here will be an uneventful one, but should we be set upon by brigands in the middle of the night, I shall do my best to protect you.”

Tess grinned. “I almost hope we will be visited by brigands, if only to see you in action.”

Emmy picked up her hairbrush and waved it about like a weapon. “I’d give them all a good paddling, to be sure.”

Tess laughed and then they spent the next few minutes unpacking their things and helping each other out of their gowns and into their nightclothes.

Emmy climbed into bed and lay on her back with a sigh, her thoughts whirling.

She was perfectly willing to accept Alex’s reasons for asking her to stay with his sister tonight. Tess was rather sheltered, and this was a roadside inn, where strangers from all walks of life might seek accommodation. Alex was protective of his sister, and so was Emmy. She would always do whatever she could to make sure Tess was happy and safe.

Still, this was her wedding night. And she couldn’t help but feel a bit, well, put out that she’d spent the whole of the evening on tenterhooks for nothing.

That her new husband had not been similarly afflicted was just salt on the wound.

Was she the only one eager to consummate their marriage?

Honestly. Married for almost ten hours now and not even a peck on the cheek from her husband. If she were a more missish girl, she might be offended.

Fortunately, she was far too mulish to be missish, and too proud to dwell on hurt feelings for long. So Alex had delayed their wedding night. It was not the end of the world. He was simply looking out for his little sister, and how could she begrudge him that?

She couldn’t.